Russian
Athletics Federation Provisionally Suspended
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IAAF and EAU have both provisonally suspended RUSADA from all
athletic activity, except domestic Russian events.
In an unprecedented move, which many observers suggested would not
happen, the IAAF and EAU have provisionally suspended the Russian
Federation. Apart from sending a clear message to the entire world,
that doping is not to be tolerated, the primary, and immediate outcome,
is that Russian athletes and Russian support personnel are excluded
from competition outside Russia. In addition, Russia now loses
it's rights to host International Athleticsevents, including those
already awarded and well into the final planning stages;
2016 World Race Walking Team
Championships (Cheboksary) and 2016 World Junior Championships (Kazan).
The bigger threat, however, is that, unless thr Russians voluntarily
accept the sanctions, the suspension will be elevated from
provisional to full.
Hopefully this is the beginning of a concerted effort to clean up
Athletics.There have been several 'false dawns' to date. The
current crisis has moved things to another level. let's hope that it is
followed through to the, possiblly, bitter end.
The Council of the International Association of Athletics
Federations (IAAF) has provisionally suspended the All-Russia Athletic
Federation (ARAF) as an IAAF Member with immediate effect.
The decision was taken at today’s 201st IAAF Council Meeting which was
held by teleconference and chaired from London by IAAF President
Sebastian Coe.
A total of 24 Members of Council took part in the meeting: 22 voted in
favour of the sanction against ARAF, who have been officially informed
of the Council’s decision, 1 voted against. The Council Member from
Russia was not eligible to participate in the vote.
Commenting on the decision, IAAF President Sebastian Coe said: “Today
we have been dealing with the failure of ARAF and made the decision to
provisionally suspend them, the toughest sanction we can apply at this
time. But we discussed and agreed that the whole system has failed the
athletes, not just in Russia, but around the world.
"This has been a shameful wake up call and we are clear that cheating
at any level will not be tolerated. To this end, the IAAF, WADA, the
member federations and athletes need to look closely at ourselves, our
cultures and our processes to identify where failures exist and be
tough in our determination to fix them and rebuild trust in our sport.
There can be no more important focus for our sport”
Frankie Fredericks read a statement on behalf of the IAAF Athletes
Commission: "The IAAF Athletes’ Commission is extremely disappointed
and concerned regarding the recent developments and allegations
directed at our sport."
"We are angry at the damage being caused to the reputation and
credibility of athletics and are united alongside our President to not
shy away from the major challenges that face our sport. The athletes
will work together to continue the process of cleaning up athletics to
ensure those athletes training and competing cleanly are not tainted by
the minority.
"We send a clear message to clean athletes in a dirty system to report
any doping or cheating that they see or hear about. We are 100%
in support of President Coe and believe that he is the leader that our
sport needs to instigate the necessary actions swiftly and strongly."
Using its powers under the IAAF Constitution Article 6.11(b) and
Article 14.7 the members of the IAAF Council provisionally suspended
ARAF on charges of breach of the Objects of the IAAF.
The IAAF’s Objects include amongst others developing and maintaining
programmes aimed at eradicating doping from the sport and safeguarding
the authenticity and integrity of Athletics.
CONSEQUENCES OF PROVISIONAL SUSPENSION
- athletes, and athlete support personnel from Russia may not compete
in International Competitions including World Athletics Series
competitions and the Olympic Games
- Russia will not be entitled to host the 2016 World Race Walking Team
Championships (Cheboksary) and 2016 World Junior Championships (Kazan)*
- that ARAF delegates the conduct of all outstanding doping cases to CAS
The provisional suspension does not:
- prevent athletes in Russia from participating in domestic competitions
- remove or waive the obligations on international level athletes in
Russia to comply with the IAAF Anti-Doping Rules, including continuing
to be subject to out of competition testing
* IAAF will announce the reallocation or cancellation of these two IAAF
World Athletics Series events as soon as possible.
NEXT STEPS
- Unless ARAF voluntarily accepts a full suspension, the IAAF is
entitled to proceed to a full hearing on whether the provisional
suspension should be made a full suspension.
- To regain membership to the IAAF the new federation would have to
fulfil a list of criteria. An inspection team led by Independent Chair
Rune Andersen, an independent international anti-doping expert
(Norwegian) and three members of the IAAF Council who will be appointed
in the next few days.
Other business
IAAF GOVERNANCE
President Sebastian Coe also took the Council through his reform
programme.
He has asked Paul Deighton, former CEO of LOCOG and UK Government
Minister, to oversee the programme which will be carried out by
Deloitte.
Forensic accountants from Deloitte and the leading legal firm
Freshfields began work at the IAAF HQ yesterday. He also told the
Council that he will create an integrity unit for athletics consisting
of an independent integrity board and review panels.
The unit will cover all areas of integrity for international level
athletes and athlete support personnel (anti-doping, illegal betting,
anti-corruption, transfers of allegiance and age manipulation).
Following the provisional suspension of the All-Russia Athletics
Federation (ARAF) by the IAAF, European Athletics confirms that this
suspension extends to its competitions and non-sporting activities with
immediate effect.
As a result, European Athletics will today write to the ARAF informing
them that Russian athletes will not be able to compete in the upcoming
SPAR European Cross Country Championships or any other European
Athletics competitions until the suspension is lifted.